Movable shelving



(No Model.) I 3 Sheets-Shet 1. .P. V. COMFORT.

- MOVABLE SHELVING. No. 375,128. Patented Dec. 20, 1 887.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR': M r r a fiwy fi g g BY ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS. Phola-Limogmplmr. Wafihinglun, n. c.

Sweets-"Sheet -2.

(No Model.) I I P. V. COMFORT.

MOVABLE SHELVING. No. 375,128. Patented Dec. 20-, 1887.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

F. v. COMFORT.

MOVABLE SHELVING.

Patented Dec. 20, 1887.

' INVBNTORi N. PETERS. Pholu-Lilhographm. wasmn mn, D. C.

UNITED STATES r PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS V. COMFORT, OF STILLWATER, MINNESOTA.

MOVABLE SHELVING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,128, dated December 20, 1887.

Application filed March 25, 1887. Serial No. 232,384. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS V. COMFORT, of Stillwater, in the county of \Vashington and State of Minnesota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Movable Shelving, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to that class of devices in which pendulous shelves are suspended from endless carriers running over suitable wheels, thereby forming a vertically-movable shelving, any of the shelves of which are easily accessible without changing ones position.

The invention has for its object to render such movable shelving simpler in construction, and more convenient and effective in operation; and to this end it consists in novel features of construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a case provided interiorly with movable shelving embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the movable shelving, the case being in section. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the movable shelving, the case being in section; and Figs. 4, 5, and (3 are detail views illustrating the method of suspending the shelves from the endless carriers.

The endless chains or carriers A A, from which the shelves are suspended, run over upper and lower sprocket or other suitable wheels, B B G O, fixed the proper distance apart upon horizontal shafts D D. The ends of the upper shaft, D, are journaled in grindstone or other anti-friction bearings, E, which may be supported on the vertical frame F, on which the shelving is mounted, or, when the shelving is inclosed within a case, G, as illustrated in the drawings, fixed to the inside of the case, or upon other suitable supports, as advisable. The ends of the lower carriershaft, D, are journaled in bearings E, which are vertically adjustable in the frame F, in the case, or their other supports, as above, by means of a setscrew, E so that the lower carrier-wheels may be raised or lowered to take up slack in the carriers A A.

The endless carriers here employed are chains formed of U-shaped links A connected at alternate joints, as usual, but at the intervening joints having their free ends looped over short gas-pipe or other tubular sections, A having flanged ends, as shown, for holding them in place, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Through the tubular sections A are passed loosely the outturned arms H of the bent wires H, by which the endless series of shelves I are suspended, only two of said shelves, however, being shown in the drawings.

The upper shelf I is supported upon the suspension-wire H, according to the preferred method. This consists in forming the wire H with a downward rectangular bend between the inner ends of the arms H and in fitting the shelf in said bend, the shelf being held in place by forked or U-shaped guides or catches J, fixed to the bottom and ends of the shelf and embracing the wire, as clearly indicated in Fig. 6. Thus the shelf can be removed by simply lifting it until the end guides or catches, J,

are disengaged from the wire H, and can be similarly and as easily replaced. In suspending the lower shelf, 1, the wire H is bent only slightly downward at its middle part, and the shelf is connected thereto by hanger'brackets J, formed at their upper ends with hooks J which are engaged with the suspension-wire H.

The movable shelving may be inclosed within the case G, as shown, which would then have felted or other lined joints, to prevent the dust from entering when the joints are opened by shrinkage of the material of which the case is composed, or the supporting-frame may be built directly into the walls of the building and suitably inclosed, or the carriershafts and wheels mounted directly on suitable fixed supports, as before mentioned.

The case, when used, may be partially or wholly glazed, and would be provided in front with a drop-leaf, K, the opening for which would be suitably lined, to render thecase dust-proof when the leaf was closed.

The drop-leaf shown is provided with the usual segmental stop-guides, K, and with a knob or handle, K, by which the bolts K K are suitably projected from the top and ends of the leaf for looking it when closed.

A bracket, G, having inclined approaches, is fixed to the frame F or other suitable support opposite the drop-leaf opening for steadying the pendulous shelves when brought to said opening.

For raising and lowering the shelves by hand either direct pressure thereon may be employed or the devices shown clearlyin Fig. 3. These consist of a handle-lever, L, pivoted at its inner end to the side post of frame F and projecting through an opening, G in the front of the casing when the same exists. To the lever L, adjacent to the chaincarrier A, is pivoted transversely a steel or other springarm, L, carrying at either end reverse pawls L L adapted to engage when properly adjusted the links A of the chain, which thus forms a movable ratchet for the pawls. To the arm L is connected a handle-rod, M, also projecting through the opening G", and having a lug, M, adapted to engage one of a series of notches, L in the handle-lever L, so that by properly adjusting the rod M either pawl L L may be engaged with the links of the chain for moving the shelves in either direction by means of the handle-lever L; or both pawls may be held out of engagement with the links A.

For operating the shelving by footI employ a tread, N, extending nearly the width of the case at the bottom of the same and hinged at its ends, so as to be capable of a lateral movement to the ends of two levers, O O, which project through openings G3 in opposite sides of the case-front, and are each pivoted by a pivot-joint, O", to a part of the frame F or other fixed support. To the inner end of the left-hand 1ever,O,is pivoted a spring-pawl, P, which is guided in a keeper, P, on the frame, and is adapted to engage an internal circular ratchet, P, on the left-hand carrier-wheel, C. To the inner end of the right-hand and shorter lever,O', is pivoted a pawl,Q, also guided in a fixed keeper, P, and adapted to engage an internal circular ratchet, Q, on the carrierwheel G. Either pawl P Q may be thrown into engagement with its respective ratchet for raising or lowering the shelves by pressing the tread N to the right or left, the levers O O swingingsidewise on theirpivoted j oints O",and

' thereby swinging the pawls on their keepers P toward or from the ratchets P Q. Then by working the tread N vertically the carrierwheels 0 G are rotated by the action of the engaged pawl on its ratchet, and in adireotion in accordance therewith, thereby moving the To the other end of the lever "B shelves as desired.

On the inner end of the lever O,beyond the pivotal connection with the pawl Q, is fixed a weight, R, acting as acounter-balance to the tread N, and also adapted to strike a pin, It, projecting upward from one end of a pivoted lever, R as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. is pivoted the lower end of a vertical plunger, S, guided by a fixed keeper, S, and carrying at its upper end a beveled head, S which is adapted to enter the notches of the ragged carrier or sprocket wheel 0, and thereby stop the same.

The weight R acting on the pin R holds the headed plunger normally in engagement with the sprocket-wheel, and thereby prevents all movement of the shelving; but on depressing the tread N the weight R is raised, and allows the plunger to fall away from the carrierwheel by gravity or by means of a suitablyarranged spring, thereby releasing the wheel and permitting the shelving to be operated by means of the tread or the handle-lever L, as before.

The case-openings G and G", through which the tread and handle levers L O 0 pass, are preferably covered by flexible material, through which the levers are closely passed, so as to keep the case dust-proof while permitting the movement of the levers. With this construction access can be had to any of the shelves, no matter how extensive the shelving, by dropping the leaf K and operating the carriers, as described, until the desired shelf 18 brought to the opening. The drop-leaf can be used for reference to and convenience in arranglng the books or other articles on the shelves; also as a writing-table.

The many advantages which the herem described construction presents for storing and gaining access to goods or articles of every kind are manifest.

When the shelving is to supportheavy articles-as in stores, &c.-'sets of three or more parallel carrier-wheels may be used for each endless carrier.

In applying the improvement to small or medium sized book-cases, I shall ordinarily provide the case with a transverse partition or false back between the front and rear shelves, so as to render the front shelves alone visible.

I am aware that there has been heretofore devised a movable shelving consisting ofpendulous shelves supported on endless carriers, which run over carrier-wheels provided with means for revolving them, and thus moving the pendulous shelves in either direction, and hence lay no broad claim to the same as my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a movable shelving, the combination of endless carrier's supporting pendulous shelves, a ratchet or ratchets connected with the carriers, reverse-pawls for actuating the ratchet or ratchets in either direction, and means, substantially as described, for operating the pawls, as set forth.

2. In a movable shelving, the combination of ragged carrier-wheels, over which chaincarriers supporting pendulous shelves run, and with the rags of which the links of the carriers engage, and a plunger or dog adapted to enter the spaces between the rags of one of the carrier-wheels, substantially as described.

3. In a movable shelving, the combination of a wheel for driving endless carriers supporting pendulous shelves, a lever and con from said cranked part a pendulous shelf, substantially as described.

6. An endless carrier formed with U-shaped links and tubular sections, around which the free ends of two adjoining U-shap'ed linksare 2o looped, substantially as described.

7. In a movable shelving, a pendulous shelf having a releasable hook or catch for engaging its supporting-wire, substantially as described.

FRANGIS V. COMFORT.

Witnesses:

LoUIs L. MANWARING, H. R. MURDOOK. 

